It seems just about everyone has an opinion on the National Anthem protests that Colin Kaepernick started before 49ers preseason games this past August. Things started in the NFL, but have crossed over into other sports and the current hot topic of discussion is what NBA players are planning on doing once the season starts.
Of course, there isn’t a social issue we can discuss without it finding its way over to former NBA power forward Charles Barkley. In an interview with Mark Trible of the Courier-Post, Barkley believes that today’s athletes need to start taking further steps.
“They have a right to protest,” he explained. “I mean, you can’t pick and choose when you want people to protest. That’s the greatest thing about this country.
“… My concern is with what they’re going to do next. You have to give money, time and effort to the black community. Kneeling or holding up a fist, that’s a statement but there’s something that comes after that. So, I challenge all those guys to give money to their certain causes … Anytime you’re famous and you do something people don’t like, there’s going to be outrage. That comes with the territory.”
Barkley isn’t the only one who believes this. Kaepernick and Carmelo Anthony have already begun discussions over email to see what they can start doing to progress what they’ve started. And in terms of giving back to the black community, Kaepernick is already in the midst of giving $1 million over the next 10 months.
(via Courier-Post)
